PDT Cocktails
Home / Brandy / Widow's Kiss

Widow's Kiss

A spirit-forward apple brandy cocktail with Bénédictine, yellow Chartreuse, and Angostura bitters, it has no citrus juice and no acidity. It is off-dry and about 33% ABV.
Laird's Bonded Apple BrandyAngostura BittersBenedictineYellow Chartreuse
2
1.7g2 dashes
3
7.9g.25 oz
5
Coupe
Glass
Stir with ice and strain into a chilled coupe
Volume111 ml
Strength33% ABV
Alcohol36 ml (29 g)91 ml of vodka (40%)3 shots (of 30ml)
Sugar4.8 g (4.3%)1 sugar cube
Aciditynone
SweetnessOff-dry
George Kappeler, “Modern American Drinks” (1895)

Similar cocktails

Diamondback
Diamondback
A spirit-forward rye whiskey cocktail with apple brandy and Yellow Chartreuse. It has no acidity or citrus, is off-dry (lightly sweet), and strong at about 33% ABV.
Rye replacing most of the apple brandy and the omission of Benedictine and bitters make it spicier, less apple-forward, and less honey-herbal.
  • Same: Bonded apple brandy and Yellow Chartreuse, stirred and strained into a chilled coupe.
  • Different: 2 oz rye with .5 oz apple brandy instead of 2 oz apple brandy; .5 oz Yellow Chartreuse instead of .25 oz; no Bénédictine and no bitters.
Honeymoon Cocktail
Honeymoon Cocktail
An apple-brandy cocktail with Bénédictine, lemon juice, and orange curaçao, lightly tart from lemon and balanced by a lightly sweet profile. It is moderate in strength at about 18% ABV.
Lemon juice and orange curaçao replacing Yellow Chartreuse and Angostura add tart citrus and orange notes, while doubled Benedictine makes it sweeter and more honey-herbal.
  • Same: 2 oz bonded apple brandy and Bénédictine, strained into a chilled coupe.
  • Different: .5 oz Bénédictine instead of .25 oz; lemon juice and orange curaçao instead of Yellow Chartreuse and Angostura; shaken.
Vieux Carre
Vieux Carre
A cognac-and-rye cocktail with sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and two bitters; it is sweet, lightly tart from mild acidity, and fairly strong at about 24% ABV.
Sweet vermouth and cognac make it richer and sweeter, without the apple or Chartreuse.
  • Same: Benedictine and Angostura bitters, stirred.
  • Different: 1 oz each of rye, cognac and sweet vermouth instead of 2 oz apple brandy; Peychaud's instead of Yellow Chartreuse; strained over a large cube in a rocks glass.
Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross
A cognac cocktail with ruby port and Grand Marnier, accented by Angostura bitters and grated nutmeg. It is lightly tart, off-dry, and fairly strong at about 25% ABV.
Port and Grand Marnier make it fruitier and sweeter, with orange, and less herbal.
  • Same: 2 oz brandy and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, stirred and served up.
  • Different: Cognac instead of apple brandy; port and Grand Marnier instead of Benedictine and Chartreuse; grated nutmeg.
Buona Notte
Buona Notte
A walnut-infused Cognac cocktail with Yellow Chartreuse and Amaro Ciociaro, finished with an orange twist and no citrus juice. It is sweet, has no acidity, and is fairly strong at about 27% ABV.
Walnut cognac and amaro make it nuttier and more bitter, without the apple.
  • Same: 2 oz brandy with Yellow Chartreuse, stirred.
  • Different: Walnut-infused cognac instead of apple brandy; .5 oz Chartreuse and Amaro Ciociaro instead of Benedictine and Angostura; strained over a large cube in a rocks glass with an orange twist.
Montgomery Smith
Montgomery Smith
A Cognac-based cocktail with Benedictine and Fernet Branca, garnished with a lemon twist. It has no citrus acidity, is off-dry, and is about 28% ABV.
Fernet makes it more bitter and minty, with cognac in place of apple.
  • Same: 2 oz brandy and Benedictine, stirred and served up.
  • Different: Cognac instead of apple brandy; .5 oz Benedictine and Fernet Branca instead of Chartreuse and Angostura; a lemon twist.